While Tropical Storm Isaias makes its way through the region, it is causing severe impacts, including damage to buildings, overturned cars, and downed trees and wires. In Bucks County, a portion of a hospital roof was ripped off shortly before noon.
There has been reports of multiple road closures, water rescues, and downed trees and wires reported. Meanwhile PECO is reporting more than 258,000 customers without power.
These are some local updates issued by patch.com
- In Bucks County, heavy damage has been reported in Doylestown,where winds ripped the roof off of Children’s Village daycare at the Doylestown Hospital. There are no reports of serious injuries, Bucks County confirmed. The hospital is closed until further notice, scanner audio indicates.
- In Norristown, the Elmwood Park Zoo is moving its animals to safety as the zoo property has seen severe flooding and destruction.
- PennDOT has reduced the speed on five Philadelphia-area highwaysdue to storm impacts.
- There was a water rescue on County Line Road in New Britain. Bucks County officials said a pregnant woman had to be rescued from her car after it stalled in the water in the area.
- Several roads in Marple and Newtown townshipsare closed due to flooding, according to officials.
- In Montgomery County, heavy flooding has led to the closure of the bridge between Norristown and Bridgeport
- Heavy flooding has hit roadways in Towamencin and Upper Gwyneddparticularly hard, with thousands in that area also losing power.
- Many of Lansdale’s main arteries are closed, including S. Valley Forge Road, S. Broad Street, and Main Street
- South Park Avenue, Trooper Road, Eagleville Road, and more in Lower Providencehave been shut down.
- Two vehicles were caught in flood waters in Bala Cynwyd late Tuesday morning.
- A driver in Wynnewoodhad to be rescued from a vehicle that was caught in flood water under SEPTA train tracks.
- I-76 saw significant flooding near King of Prussia in the eastbound lanes. Traffic was rerouted near Gulph Mills onto Route 202.
An all-day tornado watch has been issued across Eastern Pennsylvania as Tropical Storm Isaias makes its way through the region. In addition to the tornado threat, the Philadelphia region can expect tropical storm-force winds and torrential rains.
You can read: A tropical storm warning is in effect for Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware
The highest winds will be in southeast Pennsylvania and areas along and southeast of the I-95 corridor. Wind gusts to near hurricane strength are expected near the coast.
Several warnings are in place in the Philadelphia region due to the storm, which has since been downgraded to a tropical storm.
In addition to the tornado watch, Philadelphia and its suburbs are under a tropical storm warning. There is also a flood advisory and a flash flood watch in place throughout the day.
At 2 pm Tuesday…Tropical Storm Isaias was located 65 mi west of New York City with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. Isaias was moving rapidly to the north-northeast at 40 mph. pic.twitter.com/JgSryf9fc8
— NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) August 4, 2020
The main threat of tornadoes will be during the daytime hours, forecasters said. As far as the winds go, we can expect winds of 35-45 mph, with gusts between 60 mph and 70 mph. High winds are in the forecast through late Tuesday afternoon.
“The area remains subject to significant wind damage,” the National Weather Service said.
Meanwhile, PECO said it is bracing for impacts from the storm.
“PECO has been actively monitoring the weather and developing plans in advance for potential impacts to the company’s electric and natural gas system,” the utility company said in a Tuesday morning statement.
PECO said it currently has crews and more than 225 local contractors on-hand to respond to any outages and “they will work around the clock until every last customer is restored.”
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